Monday, February 13, 2006
The lost colony of Roanoke disappeared without a trace and to this day remains a mystery. The rock band with the same name, however, hopes to never fall prey to the same destiny.
Tucked away in a modest two-bedroom apartment, sitting on a couch, the band inhales the music seeping from an entertainment center and its five members contemplate if 2006 might be the year the band breaks through.
The band consists of guitarists Alex Ellis and Paul Herman, bass player Derek White and two University of Kansas students: drummer Andrew Addington, Olathe freshman, and lead vocalist Caleb Goellner, Olathe junior.
The band formed in August 2004 and band members instantly knew there was something special taking place when they performed together.
“After writing just three songs, I felt a click within the group,” Ellis said. “We all had the potential, the hard work, and the drive to do something with music.”
The band has come a long way from its days practicing in Olathe. After sending numerous demos to record labels and seriously talking with a handful of them, it was a label that first contacted Roanoke — instead of the other way around — where Roanoke now calls home.
They signed a deal with the independent label, Iron Clad Records, in December. The band will release its first album, tentatively titled “Heavy Words Lightly Thrown,” this May.
The group describes its music as a combination of aggressive hard-core guitar riffs mixed with a dash of pop-orientated catchy hooks.
In spite of being signed to a label, the band has not performed many shows in the Lawrence area.
“We always felt like we fit in the hard rock genre that exists in Lawrence, but we never get too much attention from shows out here.” Goellner said.
Addington said, “We would love to do shows in the Lawrence area, but K.C. always asks us to come and perform.”
After its recent success, the group pledges to remain loyal to its fans.
“We’re going to continue to work our asses off, continue to build our fan base,” Ellis said. “We haven’t taken off. We’re still setting stuff up and a lot of what has happened is because of the support of our fans out there.”
The never-ending job of balancing school, work and music takes a toll on all the members of the band. Although the band just signed to a record label, group members do not intend to quit school or work just yet.
“My first semester grades showed how difficult it can be to do both,” Addington said. “It’s like serving two masters, but you learn how to cope with it.”
Goellner said, “I would have to think really hard about leaving school. My goal is to graduate and never officially have to use my degree.”
— Edited by Vanessa Pear
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